Australia's New South Wales is easing border restrictions with the neighboring state of Victoria "to help residents and local businesses operate," as Victoria's cases have dropped.
On Tuesday, the NSW government announced a new "border region" that extends around 30 miles on either side of the state border, and will allow residents within the border region to enter NSW for the following:
- To obtain necessary goods or services
- For care or other compassionate reasons
- To attend work or obtain educational services (where it is not reasonable for the person to do so from their state of residence)
The new border region will go into effect on September 4.
Decline in cases: Victoria saw new daily cases hit the hundreds in early August -- but this spike appears to be on the decline. On Tuesday, Victoria reported 70 new cases from the virus, according to the health department.
“We are working hard to reduce the angst and frustration caused by this border closure,” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said in a news release Tuesday.
Victoria and NSW residents may not travel outside the border region when crossing into the other territory, the news release added.
Borders shut: Australia’s states and territories have been closed off from one another to help mitigate the virus as the second wave hit.
In early August, Victoria was closed to all eight of Australia’s states and territories.